Explosions hit oil properties in Nigeria
By KATHARINE HOURELD, Associated Press Writer

Near-simultaneous blasts tore through two oil company facilities in southern Nigeria on Monday, officials said, and the region's main militant group claimed responsibility, saying it had planted car bombs.

Two private security contractors, speaking on condition of anonymity citing prohibitions on speaking to reporters, said a blast hit an Agip residential compound in Port Harcourt and Shell oil reported an explosion at company facilities in the city, where many foreign oil workers live.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed responsibility, saying before the explosions that it had planted three car bombs in the region of creeks and swamps where most of Nigeria's petroleum is pumped. The group's attacks have already cut one quarter of the normal 2.5 million barrel per day oil output in Africa's largest producer of crude.

The militant group vowed to continue its yearlong struggle to boost regional control over oil funds paid to the central government in the faraway capital, Abuja. While car bombings are not new for MEND, the simultaneous explosions could be a sign the group is growing more sophisticated in its capabilities.

"What we are fighting for is resource control and we will not stop until we achieve our objective," the group said in a statement to The Associated Press. Residents of the city reported hearing explosions and seeing a large plume of smoke rising over the teeming city. Ambulances and fire engines headed toward the bombing sites, they said.

A police official in the city, Bassie Inyang, said there were no reports of casualties. Both blasts appeared to hit residential compounds when most workers would be in their offices.

Much of the Niger Delta oil-pumping infrastructure is away from populated areas like Port Harcourt — making it unlikely Monday's blast would result in large production cuts. Shell officials had no comment on any production cuts. Officials at Agip, a subsidiary of the Italian oil firm Eni SpA, were not immediately available for comment.

Niger Delta assailants range from militants saying they are fighting for the freedom of their imprisoned leaders and a greater share of oil wealth to criminal gangs demanding ransoms for hostages. Oil-worker kidnappings are common, although most captives are freed unharmed. The government calls the militants criminals, saying they're involved in the illegal sale of crude oil.

Nigeria is the world's 12th largest oil producer and the fifth-largest supplier to the U.S.

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 18.12.2006 12:37

Akinyi  Villager

# 2 Since Nigeria has decided that the minorities who provide the ONLY bread to her are not eligible to rule her, MEND can be justified in what it does. Call it rationalization, I don't mind. After all, the only Nigerians that can rule are Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo. OK- take Igbo out. Posted by Akinyi| 19.12.2006 01:59

vincegalant  JJC

# 3 Their acronym implies solving problems(mend) but it turns out that they are causing more havoc for the common man.If thier agitations are guienue they should find a more civilised means of actualising it.I also belong to the Niger Delta,and definitelty agree in totality that we are being short changed.Its bad enough that we are only good enough to provide the resources that foots the bill of the entire country ,but not good enough to control our resources(destiny).We are good enough to provide the resources used in developing other parts of the state,but we are not good enough for our region to experience such developments. But two wrongs can never make a right,what happens to the families of the solidiers and workers that are killed in these attacks? Mend is contributing to increasing the level of poverty in the land.The multiplier effect of thier actions trickles down to the tomato seller in the market,because should our region due to the insecurity be labelled investment unfriendly,investors would move out and future investor would not come,resulting in loss of jobs and no creation of jobs,that would in turn lead to decline in consumer spending,that would result in the tomato seller in the market recording poor sales. I would proffer that we (Niger Deltans) should all brianstorm on more peaceful meduim to actualise our vision for our blessed but neglected land.Other countries have experience historical changes without shooting a bullet,lets ponder on this!! Posted by vincegalant| 20.12.2006 06:14